London news · 26 October 2026
Diwali on Trafalgar Square 2026 Cancelled Over Forecast Storms
London's Diwali on Trafalgar Square, scheduled for Sunday 25 October 2026, has been cancelled after expert safety advice determined that forecast storms made it unsafe to continue preparations at the site.
London New Year's Eve Fireworks Tickets Go on Sale from £20
Tickets for London's New Year's Eve fireworks along the Thames went on sale on 23 October 2026, priced from £20 for London residents across six viewing zones, with around 100,000 spectators expected on 31 December.
London Bus Fares Rise for the First Time in Three Years
From 1 November, London bus and tram single fares will increase by 10p to £1.85, ending a freeze that has been in place since March 2023 after Mayor Sadiq Khan extended the pause that had been due to expire in July.
No-Phones Nightclub Lost Secures Former London College of Fashion Building on Oxford Street
London's secretive no-phones nightclub Lost has revealed its new home will be the entire former London College of Fashion building on Oxford Street, and is now seeking community support to secure a premises licence.
Beloved East London Record Shop Faces Closure Over Noise Complaints from New-Build
The BBE Store in London Fields — a free community record shop and events space since 2016 — faces a licence review after residents in a post-pandemic new-build filed noise complaints, prompting an 11,000-signature petition and a £20,000 fundraiser.
London to Get the World's First Permanent Pokémon Store Outside Asia by 2029
The Pokémon Company International announced that London will host the first permanent Pokémon store outside Asia, expected to open by 2029, selling exclusive merchandise and offering in-store experiences for fans of all ages.
'The Notebook' Musical to Inaugurate the Newly Renamed Judi Dench Theatre
A West End musical adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' 'The Notebook' will be the first production at the newly renamed Judi Dench Theatre — formerly the Shaftesbury Theatre — with previews from March 2027 and a run through December 2027.
HMV's Oxford Street Flagship to Close Again After Landlord Proposes Doubling Rent
HMV has confirmed its iconic 363 Oxford Street store — the brand's 1921 birthplace — will close in March 2027 after its landlord proposed doubling the rent, despite a 25% year-on-year sales increase at the shop.
Plans Submitted for Community Sauna Facility in Crystal Palace Park
Crystal Palace Park Trust and Community Sauna Baths have filed plans with Bromley Council for a four-sauna, plunge-pool facility in Crystal Palace Park that could welcome up to 200 visitors a day.
Regent Street and Piccadilly Circus Pedestrianisation Plans Delayed
Westminster City Council has pushed back plans to create 35,000 square metres of pedestrian space around Regent Street St James's and Piccadilly Circus, calling for another round of public consultation with no new construction date confirmed.
Oxford Street Christmas Lights to Feature a Harry Potter Wizarding Theme
Oxford Street's 2026 Christmas lights will embrace a Harry Potter theme, coinciding with the HBO premiere of a new Philosopher's Stone TV series on Christmas Day and the opening of a new Harry Potter flagship store on 4 November.
Royal Observatory Greenwich to Close for £77 Million Transformation
The Royal Observatory Greenwich closes from 2 November for a £77 million redesign called 'The First Light,' delivering step-free access, new galleries, and a lift to the Great Equatorial Telescope, with a summer 2027 reopening.
Alexandra Palace Fireworks and Drone Festival Returns Over Bonfire Night Weekend
The Alexandra Palace Fireworks Festival returns on 7–8 November 2026 across a full Saturday–Sunday for the first time, with a drone show by Britain's Got Talent runners-up Celestial and tickets from £18 per day.